MIAMI — Well, so much for that new leadoff hitter. Jim Riggleman said yesterday Danny Espinosa would be in the top spot of tonight's lineup, with Ian Desmond batting seventh. It appears the manager changed his mind at some point, because Desmond (0-for-13) is back leading off again, with Espinosa (4-for-10) back in the 7-hole. We'll see what Riggleman has to say about that.

Livan Hernandez, meanwhile, makes his second start of the season, hoping to pick up where he left off on Opening Day (two runs, four hits in 6 1/3 innings). He'll have one of his biggest supporters in attendance: Half-brother Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, who was in the stands last night and actually caught two foul balls! (Of course, your odds of doing that increase by a huge factor when you're one of only 2,000 or fans in attendance.)

One final note: Several of you have been asking about the Nats' radio situation, noting last night's game couldn't be found on either 106.7 FM or 1500 AM. Here's the deal: The Nats get bumped off 106.7 when the Wizards are playing, and they get bumped off 1500 when the Caps are playing. (106.7 also announced it's picking up select Caps playoff games, but not those that conflict with the Nats.) Any games not on the flagship station, though, can be found on 1580 AM, as is the case tonight. The team's official website doesn't reflect this (it shows every game being on 106.7, which is wrong). I've got a hard copy of the actual schedule, though, and I'll be sure to include the correct station here before every game…

MLB rules do not allow stations to broadcast the game online. There is no way to listen online without subscribing to an MLB product. If you pull up the 106.7 or WHFS stream during a game you get other programming.

I am being nudged closer and closer to the JayB position on Riggleman (sorry Knoxville Nat). The vascillating on something like the lead off man tells me either someone else (Johnson) is pressing the issue or Riggs is actually afraid of damaging a young players pysche. Either way, he's not showing any leadership.

Although 106.7 does stream, they wont be able to stream the Nats broadcasts, just as 1500 AM couldn't stream them in previous years. The only way you can listen to audio streams of MLB games is via MLB.com or one of its smartphone apps. The good news on that is there are no blackout restrictions on audio like there are on video, and the cost is only $15/season, which covers all audio broadscasts of every feed of every MLB game including the playoffs and World Series. If you have a smartphone, it's a great deal.

Addendum to Natsjack: MiLB games are available. Might see some real managing and some real baseball played by promising playoff contenders like the Syracuse Chiefs and Potomac Nationals. And there's Randy Knorr who ought to replace Riggleman.

Ultimately he's making the right move by allowing Desmond to hit his way out of the 0 for whatever. Putting Espinosa at leadoff is too risky at this point of the season as there is no fallback if Espinosa fails as well.

Putting Espinosa at leadoff is too risky at this point of the season as there is no fallback if Espinosa fails as well.Let's get it straight @joemktg. Riggleman has already tried his preferred fallback and that would be Jerry Hairston Jr. and ostensibly why he, and not Harris, is the Nats UTIL. Why Morgan is now with the Brewers. In fact I would imagine Riggleman would prefer starting Hairston everyday … he's finding any excuse to get him into every game.No, they are not out of options with Espinosa. Roger Bernadina, Boomer Whiting, and even Steve Lombardozzi should be considered viable options. And let's not start with the Riggleman line? No, they don't have experience … but ARE THE NATS going to win anywhere near 70 this year? Without a miracle? NO. So, what's the harm in developing future prospects … isn't that the idea?

Anonymous said… "I for one am now rooting for the Caps to be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs."A pox on your house. May your children grow to loathe you. May you relatives visit and NEVER leave. May the unwashed masses camp in your front yard. May your car throw a rod. May your wife leave you for Toughhockey.

Desmond leading off probably has something to do w/ the fact he is 6-for-12 against Volstad. Espinosa hasn't seen him.AND all this talk about Desmond developing into a clubhouse leader of the future? How does it look when you replace him with Hairston and Cora only 4 games into the season? A joke that's what. Does it really matter what Desmond does or does not do? Its more about whether he is a "Riggleman" veteran.

Mark… I watched the interview in the stands last night with El Duque and he has to be approaching 50 yo. He looks good (for a 50yo) but his ability to speak english has regressed since he left baseball. He did tell the Marlins interviewer that he would be Livan's biggest fan tonight.

1580 AM is inaudible in central Fairfax County (Vienna, Annandale). I have MLB At Bat 11 on my iPhone, but that's not much good driving around. The only way I could hear the game in the car last night was the Marlins broadcast on XM. Booo!

Gameday Audio is also free with a Twins Territory Team membership, which includes 15% of one purchase at the MLB online store, a free tour of Target Field, and other crap.I think the Nats did something similar last year, but I can't find it on the official site.Anyway, even if you're not a Twins fan (you jerk), it's not a bad deal. It's the same price as Gameday Audio, plus you get the 15% discount. (You'd still have to buy the $15 At-Bat mobile app to listen to games on your mobile device.)

Davey Lopes, if I remember correctly, started like gangbusters as a rookie leadoff hitter. Espinosa will do fine.And yes, Riggs ate at Waffle House and had a triple order of the has browns scattered and smothered, three eggs sunnyside up, bacon and coffee.

"I have MLB At Bat 11 on my iPhone, but that's not much good driving around."Get a car radio with a USB port. Only a couple hundred bucks. Or get an external speaker that plugs into the headphone jack on your iPhone for $10-$15. Visit your local Radio Shack, you'd be amazed at what's available.

Could not pick up the am station on my way home from work last night in the car. I thought things were going to better this year with radio coverage, and here we are right back to practically nothing. Hockey play-offs last a long time.

1580 AM leaves with the sun at my house. Bummer.I was looking forward to seeing Espinosa bat lead-off. Desmond is never held accountable for anything. He got away with murder last year for his poor fielding and streaky hitting and here we go again this year. I've been disappointed with Desmond as a starting shortstop and also am disappointed with the bad start to the season.Perhaps he will start one of his hot streaks today.

Somebody with no name who posted at 4:27 PM said:"Get a car radio with a USB port…" etc.Nope. That's dependent on having a strong data network signal everywhere I drive, and also on having an unlimited data plan with your smart phone. Data is expensive, and no cell phone network is perfect. Ergo, At Bat is not a substitute for a car radio. We deserve a real local radio signal that we in the DC region can hear.

It is clear to me that Riggleman is not calling the shots with at least this decision and probably many more. Perhaps a power struggle for the Lerner's (and maybe Rizzo's) confidence? The administrative side of things is probably in bigger shambles than the on-the-field product.

Clarifying the radio situation: I was told that 106.7 will NOT bump Nats games for Caps playoff games. The only Caps games that will be picked up by them will be those that don't conflict with Nats games.

My XM has proven well worth the cost. Not only do I not have to try to guess where to find the game, or hope I'm able to receive whichever station, but after the east coast games end I'm able to tune in games to our west, including the poetry of Vin Scully.

We are stuck with the Marlin announcers in Fl. and they can not believe the strike zone. They keep showing the pitch tracker with all these strikes being called a ball. They guessed that the ump has a high strike zone that neither pitcher can survive with.

Mark,I'm loving the Nats' new MO of take, take, take until the starter is out by the 5th. Not since Nick Johnson was on the team have they done that much. Anyway, what do you think starts happening when the league catches on? Is their response simply to throw more strikes?

Can someone better than me access the numbers for opponent's bullpens against our lineup? I feel like these middle relief guys we've facing have been shutting us down more effectively than the best closers in the game.

How can you change half of the team and really get the same result …….what is it now about third base coaches…everyone has been suspect …..nothing but the same mistakes……and really is this again the Lerners are cheap team …..is that why we have this team of youth and age ….so hear we are again looking at despair and depression

Not that this would ever happen but the Nationals could have a 15-run lead against the Marlins, and I wouldn't feel the least bit confident.Chad Gaudin, please answer the white courtesy phone. Your ride to Syracuse is waiting.

I hope someone tells us how upset the team is about this loss tonight and how they just aren't going to take it anymore and that the feeling in the locker room is that this quality of baseball is unacceptable. That's what this team needs to really change things. Some veterans to tell us that they have to play better.I didn't see much of spring training, but I have to ask what everyone was talking about. How did all of these schlubs in the bullpen make the team? I thought people said Michael Morse finally learned how to hit consistently. What was all the talk about better defense?I was confused by the whole "expect it" ad campaign. Now I think I finally know what they meant. No need to be more specific than "it." You know it when you smell it. Looks like we stepped in it. Looking forward to a lot more it this year!

Grandstander, I just went through the actual plate appearances and tried to figure that out myself. Here's what I came up with:PA BB AB H K R BA67 9 57 10 14 3 .175That's through the eighth tonight. Compare that to our offensive stats against starters so far, through tonight's game:PA BB AB H K R BA108 12 92 21 17 11 .228Since I did it by hand, it may be off by a little. But I don't think it's off by much. And it's pretty ugly all around.If you're looking for something positive, the K/BB ratio is good, and the Nats are seeing a lot of pitches (with better than average pitches per plate appearance numbers). Good patience, poor results.

Franchise records through 5 games:2005 3-22006 2-32007 1-42008 3-22009 0-52010 2-32011 1-4So before we all get too critical, we all know how those weak beginnings turned out. No need to panic. This year is clearly different.Washington Nationals. Expect it.

Anonymous, Spring Training was ALL ABOUT "they just aren't going to take it anymore and that the feeling in the locker room is that this quality of baseball is unacceptable. That this team has the professional and veteran attitude to really change things." And some veterans DID tell us they were going to play better."

I just finished the match at MLB live look-ins. I know I should not be praising opposing pitchers but I am impressed with Nunez's stuff. That velocity and the movement on his fastball is pretty good.Anyways, very disappointing result. When offense comes through, pitching lets down. Zimm did have a chance to tie the game so you can say offense was also partly responsible.I take back my comment from yesterday that Nats will get swept. Nats will beat Josh tomorrow after losing to couple of ordinary starters.

Hmmm, I don't know what to make of the Nats through 5 games.Perhaps something to be done would be to phase out Gaudin, Broderick and Coffey. Balester definitely needs to be called up. Why wait? I don't understand it.

Explain ….when it is said by Riggleman there are to many good bats to keep hitting like this….That they are hitting like this …well NOT HITTING like this ….is it a way to say that …ahhh they been pitched real good ….or we tip our hats again and again ….I really thought after ST that we would see a change ….BUT NO ..it is the same team …tv broadcast …..excuses excuses

The Veterans played poorly at the plate as in Werth, Zim, LaRoche and Pudge. No hits between them although they all got on base.Too many ducks left on the pond.BTW, congrats to Ian Desmond on a really good night.

I am trying to remember the reliever's name we got from the Yankees last year who was awful, and we finally got run our of town by May (or did that happen 2009 and all the seasons seem the same).Now we get Gaudin who was awful for the Yankees last year. Why would we think he would be any better here. I was at the game Saturday and gladly booed him off the field. RISP no better than last year (and that was my complaint last year and have done nothing to change it. Changed players same result. Get rid of the Eckstein obviously he has nothing to add to them in this department.

>>>I am trying to remember the reliever's name we got from the Yankees last year who was awful, and we finally got run our of town by May (or did that happen 2009 and all the seasons seem the same).<<<Brian Bruney

I'm not from the DC area but I am a huge Washington National fan. I used to be able to pick up their night games on 1500 AM, but I do not get 106.7 FM (at least not the DC version). I thought they were going to still be on 1500 AM, but sadly the last 2 nights, I went to turn on the game & they had a hockey game. Does anyone know if 1500 AM will still carry them & if so when the next game covered will be?